On the Rocks is the first geological film festival for everybody. You should enter a creative video, representing your research, passions or new ideas regarding the Earth, in no more than 4 minutes and 55 seconds!
We are looking for passionate contributions made through any filming technique. Your film should be addressed to a wide audience of non-specialists, bringing them into the wonders, dangers and surprises of an adventurous geological journey!
The potential contributors may therefore be either scientists, students, filmmakers, or passionate laymen. You may join the film festival on your own or in a group, and without any limitations of imagination.

From 1 May 2021, in chronological order, the films will be uploaded to the YouTube channel "On the Rocks", prior verification by the Organising Committee.

Best On The Rocks 2021 film
Best Story
Best Screenplay
Best Outreach
Best Student film
Best Animation film
Best Experimental film

All prizes are awarded to the film independently from the numbers of authors. The prize for the best film On The Rocks 2021 consists of € 1500, all other awards are € 1000 each. In addition to the money prizes, there is a 2022 free annual membership to the Italian Geological Society, the Italian Society of Mineralogy and Petrology, and the Italian Paleontological Society. The possible mentions do not include a money prize.

1. PURPOSE OF THE FILM FESTIVAL
"On the Rocks" is the first Italian Film Festival organized by the Italian Geological Society (SGI), Italian Society of Mineralogy and Petrology (SIMP), Italian Paleontological Society (SPI), which asks to all participants to tell in a creative way their own research, discovery or new ideas about the Earth.
The participants shall create a film of a maximum duration of 4 minutes, and 55 seconds. All audio-visual techniques are accepted: from cartoon to keep / stop motion, from an amateur film (shot with the phone) to a professional movie.
The submission of the films starts on 15 April 2021 and ends at midnight on 25 July 2021. From 1 May 2021, in chronological order, the films will be uploaded to the YouTube channel "On the Rocks", prior verification by the Organising Committee.

2. WHO CAN PARTICIPATE
The film festival is open to students, graduates, researchers, professionals and geology enthusiasts of all ages, who may participate individually or in groups.
Each participant makes the SGI, SIMP and SPI, as well as all those who help in organizing and conducting this festival, free from any and all liability, civil or criminal, related to the film production and publishing. Each participant responds directly in relation of any claim or request for damages by third parties, concerning production, publishing or distributing the film.
By participating to the competition and by submitting the film, each participant confirms full and unconditional legal and material ownership of the same, as well as the ownership of all the relevant authorizations given by all persons who, for whatever reason, are portrayed in the film clips.

3. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION
Each participant can submit only one film. Participants must submit their films through the platform https://filmfreeway.com/festivals, by midnight on 25 July 2021, CET. Primary and secondary school students, as well as university and PhD students, will have to declare their status in the registration form on the FilmFreeway platform. The films published on the YouTube channel will be introduced and closed with an image of the festival, which will contain the logos of SGI, SIMP and SPI, and any sponsors.
By 1 August 2021, the selected finalist films will be announced for the evaluation by the Panel of Judges. The Panel of Judges (see point 7) will award the prizes during the Ceremony at the Congress of the Italian Geological Society in Trieste, September 13-17.

4. FILM REQUIREMENTS
The films will be used on internet, or in other public screenings and events, and it is therefore advised to submit an HD version (1920x1080).
Films will adopt an aspect ratio 16:9. Allowed formats are: .MOV, .MPEG4, .MP4, .AVI, .WMV; Admitted Frame rate: 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, o 60; Audio codec: AAC-LC.
The recommended video BitRate is 12 Mbps; The recommended audio BitRate is 384 Kbps.

5. AWARDS
All prizes are awarded to the film independently from the numbers of authors. The prize for the best film On The Rocks 2021 consists of € 1500, all other awards are € 1000 each. In addition to the money prizes, there is a 2022 free annual membership to SGI, SIMP and SPI. The possible mentions do not include a money prize.
This Film Festival does not fall within the scope of Presidential Decree 430 of 26/10/2001, art. 6, paragraph a, since the contest is not considered a "prize contest" and is not, therefore, subject to ministerial authorization. The awards are to be considered as "awards to culture", therefore not be subject to the withholding tax regime (see Resolution of 10.28.1976 prot. 1251 Ministry of Finance - Direct Taxes).

6. DISCLAIMERS
Films that are found not eligible to be published or for which there has been misconduct of the authors, will be excluded or removed from the dedicated channel, at any time.
Whenever the film on the YouTube channel receives comments containing abusive or discriminatory content, or which may offend or damage the reputation of others, the comments will be removed and blocked.
Films already submitted in previous editions are excluded from the 2021 edition of the festival. At any time, without that participants can make any claim, demand or compensation, the SGI, SIMP and SPI reserve the right:
a) not to proceed with the awarding of prizes in case no film is considered suitable or appropriate to the criteria;
b) to proceed or not to proceed with the award if there is only one film in the competition;
c) to suspend the contest or not to award any prize.

7. THE EVALUATION PROCEDURE, THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE, AND THE PANEL OF JUDGES
The evaluation procedure for awarding the prizes involves two stages: the first by the Organising Committee, the second by a Panel of Judges. The members of these boards will not receive any remuneration for their activities.
All films will be evaluated for conformity to the festival requirements and suitability for online publication at the sole discretion of the Organising Committee. Participants will be informed by email about the main steps of the video management: reception, non-conformity to requirements, request for modifications/supplements.
In addition, the Organising Committee will verify the absence of abusive or discriminatory content, or that may offend or harm the reputation of others; irrelevant to the subject of the Film Festival (off topic); promotion or supporting illegal activities or any form of crime; defamation or threats.
It will also verify absence of personal attacks of any kind or any direct or indirect abusive comments directed at any ethnic group, political or religious minorities or specific or able to harm in any way the rights of each single individual; as well as the absence of details in the promotion of products or services, sexual content or sexual content links, trade promotion, and comments that present sensitive data in violation of the Privacy Act.
The Panel of Judges will evaluate the selected films and award the prizes.

8. USE RIGHTS
Participation in the Film festival implies the transfer of usage rights of the SGI, SIMP and SPI for any online and offline promotional purposes, including events, exhibitions and conferences, related to the theme of geology.
More specifically the transfer of use and property rights involves the authorization to use the audio-visual material produced and involves the grant of a license, unlimited in time in favor of the SGI, SIMP and SPI, the product material and is inclusive, but not limited to, the following rights and powers: the right of publication, the right of reproduction and with any audio-visual support, right transcription, editing, adaptation, processing and / or reduction, the right of communication and distribution to the public or in spheres and spaces open to the public non-profit, right to publish in electronic format via the public network, the institutional intranets and social networks.

The Film Festival participants guarantee as of now:
a) audiovisual footage are originals and copyright free and/or legally bought materials, images and sounds, for which participants have acquired all editorial rights, relieving as of now the SGI, SIMP and SPI from any claim made by third parties;
b) the audio-visuals created will not include any audio or visual element that has an advertising nature, according to current regulations, or otherwise unlawful under applicable regulations;
c) for individuals, possibly represented, and / or portrayed and / or interviewed in the audio-visual coverage will grant the right of exploitation of their image free of charge, assuming that the SGI, SIMP and SPI guarantee as of now that by that the use of their image rights will not result in injury or harm to the honor, reputation and dignity of the person portrayed;
d) for individuals under age, possibly represented, and / or portrayed and / or interviewed in the audiovisual footage you will ensure the acquisition of consent from the parent or legal tutor, be it natural or legal person, assuming that the right of exploitation of' picture of the child will be free of charge and that as of now the SGI, SIMP and SPI guarantee that the use of image rights will not result in injury or harm to the honor, reputation and dignity of the child;
e) when submitting the audiovisual footage, you have been obtained by all subjects eventually recovered and / or present in the filming, all permissions and clearances necessary according to these Conditions of Participation also with reference to Legislative Decree no. 196/2003 ("Code regarding the processing of personal data") and to be able to provide at the request of the SGI, SIMP and SPI the relevant proof documents no later than 10 days from the request also made by e-mail.

The films will not be returned and will be made available, in full or in part, by citing the authors, as promotional materials of geological culture, as well with the projection in the SGI, SIMP and SPI offices, as well at events, fairs and conferences.
Although not provided for in this Regulation, expressly refers to the L 633/1941 ("Protection of copyright and other rights relating to its exercise") and subsequent amendments.
Participation in the festival implies acceptance of each of the articles of this Regulation.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Dan Sokolowski

    This was great. It was nicely organized, well put together and communication with the festival was awesome. Nice awards video at the end.

    September 2021